Signal or alarm device.



W. M. WAITE & J. H. WHEELOGKQ SIGNAL 0R ALARM DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.24, 1913.

1,098,772, Patented June 2, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. M. WAITB & J. H. WHEBL60K.

SIGNAL 0R ALARM DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1913.

1,098,772, Patented June 2,1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

32 A 31 f Q: :t: I]

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35 Z i 3 i8 I vi I I'n-Je ntqi's L- w (245m I UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE.

WILBUB M. WAITE, OF SYRACUSE. NEW YORK, AND JOHN H. WHEELOCK, OF WORCES- TER. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AMERICAN MODEL AND INSTRUMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGNAL OR ALARM DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Application filed March 24, 1913. Serial No. 756.402.

Be it known that we, \ViLncn M. W'arrr. and Jens H. um-mock, citizens of the lnited States, said Warrn residing at Syracuse, countv of Onondaga, State of New York. said ll'in-n-zu'icn residing at \Vorcester. in the county of Worcester and State Of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Signal or Alarm Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for giving munber signals by means of a bell or other electrically controlled device, for

use in calling persons, indicating localities, etc. Such an apparatus can be used as part of a tirealarm system. fire drill system. calling system, and the like. a j

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction reduced to sim le terms and of a high degree of efficiency or this purpose; also to provide a construe; tion for this purpose in which the parts required to control the makin of a large number of signals will be small in number, and also of such a character that they can be reduced to a small compass.

More specifically stated the invention comprises the control of the making of the electrical connections by means of two members, one making single individual contacts at regular intervals throughout a single sequence of operations, and the other controlling the completion of the circuits through these several contacts, so as'to allow any desired numbers tobe completed, and to keep the others insulated or broken, a clock-work or the like being employed to operate the first member, and theothermemher being adjusted. preferably circumferentially. so as to be set to cause any desired signal to be made.

The invention also involves improvements in details of construction and combinations of parts as will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a device constructed in accordance with thisinvention showing the outside of the casing, and also illustratin the electrical cormcctions diagrammatieallyfipart of the casing being broken away to show interiorconstruction; Fig. 2 an elevation of the interior construction with l the casing removed; Fig. it is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 2; Fig. t is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the means for operating the elock-work, and Fig. (i is a perspective view of certain electrical connections and the sup )orting means therefor.

The invention is shown us connected with an electric circuit having two terminals 10 and 11 and provided with a battery 12 and a signal giving device in the form of a hell 13. it is to be understood, however. that the electrical connections are not shown in detail for the reason that any of the. usual types of electrical connections can be used. The invention can be used also with a single or any number of circuits, each one or any number of them being adapted to give the signals.

The instrument is shown as contained in a casing 14 having a dial 15 under the glass cover thereof, and provided with a row of numerals or other e iaracters thereon and a projection or boss 1%) adjacent to each one. Inside the casing is a metallic frame comprising a back or base 16. top or front 17, and legs 18 connecting the base and top.

The motive power for the mechanism is provided by a clock-work .20. the details of which are not shown. This clock work is provided with a stem or shaft 21 having an end .22 fitting a key 22-). On this stem or shaft is a projecting arm 24. and a stop 25 is located on the frame in position to receive it as it rotates. The device is operated by placing the key on the shaft and turning it through a part of a revolution. 'lhcn upon the removal of the key the usual clock spring which has been wound up by the operation of the key. will turn the clock-work and also will turn the shaft back until th'eprojection' comes into contact with the stop. For the purpose of permitting the signal to be repeated one or more times a ratchet wheel 26 is provided on the shaft .21. The ratchet wheel is shown in this case us'having three teeth. but it can have any desired number. and a pawl 27 is arranged to cooperate with it. In winding the. clock-work the key should be turned until the pawl slips over one of the teeth. which is ascertained by the click of the pawl as; it comes into position behind the tooth. If it'is desired v to have the signal given three times, for exanflilcfth key is turned until three clicks are heard, and then released.

The shaft 21 of the clock-work is connected, as by gearing 30, with a shaft 31 which is provided with an operatin" insulating cylinder 32. Then the shaft is turned one notch the clock-work will turn this cylinder through one complete revolution and then stop. -When turned any other number of notches the number of revolutions will he increased accordingly. This cylinder is provided with a series of metallic plugs or contacts 33 electrically connected with the interior of the cylinder and preferably directly connected with the shaft 31. These conductors are arranged in a helical series around the cylinder from end to end.

On an insulating plate 35 supported by the frame are arranged a series of brushes 36 shown as nine in number, and arranged parallel with each other. These brushes bear upon the cylinder 32 and each one of them is at the same distance from the end 5 thereof as one of the plugs therein. They are shown as arranged in a row longitudinally of the cylinder so that as the cylinder rotates each one of them will be electrically connected with the shaft 31 in regular order. At the other ends these brushes are connected by individual wires or other eonductors 37 with another set of brushes 38 arranged in a row on an insulating plate 39 and bearin I on the surface of a metallic controlling cy inder 40. This member or cylinder 40 is arranged to rotate or be adjusted abouta vertical axis, and is insulated from the frame of the device by insulating bushings 40. It is also provided with a series 0 of insulating plugs 41 each constituting an insulating region on the surface of the cylinder large enough to cover the end of one of the brushes so as to insulate that brush from the cylinder. These plugs are ar- 1 4.5 ranged in rows parallel with the direction of the row of brushes 38. They are arranged in various kinds of groups according to the needs of the apparatus. This cylinder 40 is of a simple character having a shaft 44 retatable with it and extending through the top or front plate 17 of the frame. On the top of this shaft, is a transverse arm 42 at the end of which is a pointer 43. The pointer is provided with a knob or hand hold 45 extending through the front glass.

The pointer is turned with the cylinder by the knob to bring the pointer to any desired number on the dial, when it overlies the boss 19 corresponding thereto. The cylse inder 40 is designed to be set in such position that one of these rows of insulators will register with the ends of the brushes 38 and insulate certain of said brushes from the cylinder" It will be understood, of 6'5 course, that 'oneof the terminals 10 is connected with the cylinder 40, in the present instance this being accomplished by connecting it to the bottom brush 38 which is always bearing on the metallic cylinder as none of the insulating plugs are at the same level as this brush. The other conductor 11 is connected with the metallic frame of the instrument and consequently is in electrical connection at all times with the plugs or contacts 33.

It will be obvious that as the cylinder 39. rotates the contacts will come into electrical connection with their respective brushes one at a time commencing at one end of the series. Now if it desired to give the signal 21, for example, the cylinder 40 is set to a position in which the brushes 38 ar in line with the plugs 41 shown at the center of Fig. 4. The pointer 43 will turn with the cylinder and point to the number, character or name on the dial which indicates the person, locality, or the like to which the signal 21 applies. \Vith the parts in the position shown it is the number 21, but any other number on the dial might be arranged to correspond with the signal 21. In this case the first two brushes 38 at. the

bottom and also the upper brush are in contact with the surface of the cylinder, while the others are in contact with the insulating plugs. Then the first .two contacts made between the conductors 33 and the brushes 36 will result in ringing the hell twice, while the next five will not'as the latter contacts are broken by the insulating plugs. The last contact, however, will result in ringin the bell once, so that the number 21 will be rung. If it is desired to test the contacts 33, the cylinder can be set between two rows so that all the brushes are on the metallic surface thereof and then nine rings will be given in regular order.

It will be seen that the setting of the instrument to give any desired signal within its range is a simple matter, accomplished almost instantaneously. As has been stated if itis desired to give the signal a pluralitv of times the clock is wound up until capable of rotating the operating cylinder the desired number of times.

Although we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, we are aware of the fact that many modifications can be made in the details of construction without departing from the. scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, we do not wish to be limited in these respects, but

What we do claim is:-

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotary member having an insulating surface prov1ded with conductors extending therethrough, a series of brushes, each m position to engage one of said conductors as the member rotates, an

' adjustable member having a conducting surface and the ther connected with said conof each series being in alinement, and a sec-v ondset, of brushes extending into contactwith said conducting surface, whereby the relative adjustmentof the second set of brushes and controlling member will control the number of brushes which are connectedelectrically with the conducting surface, and an electrical circuit, one terminal of which is connected with the conducting surface and second set of brushes, and the other with said conductors.

3. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a rotatable member, clock-work for rotating -said member, said member having an insulating surface provided with a series of conductors helically arranged, a series of brushes arranged adjacent to' said member in position to be engaged by said conductors one by one as the member rotates, a controlling member having a conducting surface and a. plurality ofrows of lnsulating regions thereon, a second; set of bruslres extending into contact with said conducting surface, said controlling member and second set'ofbrushes being capable of a' relative adjustment for control-- ling the number of brushes which are con nected electrically with the conducting surface, and an electrical circuit, one terminalof which is comiected with the conducting surface, and the other with said conductor.

4. Ina device of the character described, the combinationof a rotary member having an insulating surface provided with a series of conductors thereon helically arranged, a series of brushes in position to engage said conductors one by. one as the member rotates,

an adfdstablemember 'havin a conductor provided with rows of 'insu ating regions thereon, a series of'brushes in position to engage the surface of said adjustable member and electrically connected with the first named brushes, and an electrical circuit having one terminal connected with the conducting. surface and the other connected with said conductors on the rotatable member and having a signal or alarm'device therein.

5. In a devicewof the character described, the combination of a rotary cylinder having an insulating surface and provided with a series of-conductors, said conductors being arranged on said cylinder in a helical series, aseries of brushes arranged in alinement, each in positionrto be engaged by one of said projections as the cylinder rotates, means for rotating said cylinder, means for connecting all of said conductors constantly .witha source of electricity, a second cylinder 5 having a conducting surface also corfiiected with said source of electricity and having insaid surface a plurality of rows of insulating plugs, and a series of brushes each connected with one of thefirst named brushes and arranged in alinement in position to engage t e surface of said conducting cylinder and the plugs thereon. i f

6. In a device .ofthe character described, the combination of a rotary cylinder having an insulating surface and provided with a plurality of conductors extending through said surface, said conductors being ar rangedon said cylinder in a helical series, a series of brushes arranged in alinement along an element of the cylinder, each in position to be engaged by one of said conductors as the cylinder rotates, means for rotating said cylinder, means for connectingall of said conductorsconstantly with a source of electricity, a second cylinder having .a conducting surface also" connected with said source of electricity and having in said surface a plurality of series of insulating plugs, those of each series being arranged along an element of the cylinder,

and a series of brushes each connected with one. of the first named brushes and arranged in alinement in position to engage the surface of said conducting cylinder, whereby in each adjusted position of said conducting those in contact with the conducting surface of the other cylinder will cause the circuit to be completed a predetermined number of times each time the first cylinder is rotated through a complete revolution.

. =7. In a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of two rotary members, one

having an insulating surface and the other -a conducting surface, and each one being provided; with plugs, the plugs of the insulat ing member being of conducting material,

and those of the conducting member of ins'ulating material andarranged in rows,

110 cylinder some of the bruslies will be on it means whereby the conducting member can be adjusted clrcumferentially to bring any selected row of plugs into operation, means for rotatin the insulating cylinder one or more comp ete rotations, and means whereby as the insulating cylinder makes a complete rotation an electric circuit will be connected periodically throu lithe plugs thereon and through the conducting surface of the other member to give a signal a predetermined number of tlmes with a predetermined period of rest between the signals.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of an operating cylinder havin conducting plugs in its surface, a contro lin cylinder having insulatin plugs in its sur ace, means for holding t e controlling cylinder in lcircumferentially adjusted positions, means for rotating the operating cylinder one or more complete revolutions, an electric circuit connected with the. controlling cylinder and with the plugs in the operating cylinder, and means extending from the operating cylinder to the controllin cylinder for 'connect' the lugs of the ormer with the surface of the latter as the operating cylinder rotates.

9. In a device of the character described,

\ the combination of a rotary operating cylinder provided with conducting plu extending therefrom, a circumferential y adjustable controlling cylinder having a conducting surface rovided with insulating plugs therein, an two sets of brushes eac connected with one of the other set, each brush of one set being in position to contact with the conducting plugs and each one of the other with the controlling cylinder.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a rotary cylinderproscribing witn oam-m vided with a helical row of conductors, in circumferentially adjustable cylinder having a conducting surface provided with a plurality of rows of insulating plugs, those of each row being difl'erently spaced, and two sets of brushes each brush oi one set being in position to contact with theplugs and each one of the other with the conducting cylinder, and in alinement with the plugs of the two cylinders.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a circumferentially adjustable cylinder havin a conductin surface and a plurality of rows of insu ating plugs therein, the lugs of each row being arranged different y from. those of the others, a series of brushes in position to rest on the cylinder, means for holding the cylinder in adjusted positions, in each of which some of said brushes engage the plugs of one row, a circuit connected with said cylinder, and means for periodically connecting each of said brushes, one by one, with said circuit.

12. In an electrical device, the combina tion with a rotary member having a conducting surface and provided with series of insulating plugs in said's'urface arranged in dissimilar series, and a series of brushes arran to bear onsaid surface along any one 0 'said series of plugs.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set ourhands, in the presence of two sub- WILBUR M1" WAITEQ JOHN H. 'WHEELOC-KH Witnesses: A i I FAY, C. Fonnnsr Wrsson. 

